Life with Lucy: Renewed by Relationships

Lucy eating her last homemade meal from Grammy: leftover Chinese that was in the fridge.

One of the great blessings that I have received in these past few weeks is feeling the love of my Mom through the relationships she had in her life. I have felt God’s presence and ultimate goodness while with people whom my Mom loved, and it has renewed my spirit.

One such relationship was with Roy. After an unfortunate accident that left him a paraplegic, Roy has been bedridden for forty years. For thirty of those forty years, my Mom had been visiting with him in the nursing home. She would take jokes and read them to him. She would feed him. She would send him cards. The list goes on… Overwhelmed with sadness, but encouraged by the Holy Spirit, my Dad, Lucy and I went to visit with Roy to share the news of my Mom’s passing. On his bedside stand was one of her famous homemade computer cards; she had sent it for Valentine’s Day. The outpouring of his emotion on the news of my Mom’s death confirmed two things for me: the extent of my Mom’s charitable heart and the depths of her love in action to others. I felt Jesus’ presence in the room that day, as I truly realized how much my Mom followed in His footsteps and led her life similar to how He did. The experience has stirred me to do more and complain less. Mostly, I am grateful to still be getting lessons from my Mom. I have come to understand that it is through these experiences with my Mom (both in the past and future) that Lucy will come to know her Grammy.

My Mom loved this picture of Lucy: "Butterfly Nose."

One of the things my Mom did the day she died was mail out her annual St. Patrick’s Day party invitations. Notably, she had it written in her calendar to mail these invites the next day. Thinking that it was no coincidence that they went out early, and after discussion with my Dad and sister, we decided to still have the party. It was a wonderful celebration of my Mom’s life; her presence was felt everywhere. My spirit was further renewed by hearing stories from my Mom’s friends about their relationship, seeing how important she was to so many, and feeling that love in action yet once again. I imagine Mom may have been beaming down with pride that everyone was there, honoring her Irish tradition and celebrating her life….as some said at the party, it was a true “Irish wake.” She wouldn't have wanted it any other way.